The Fall of the Dieties - Left to Die and Living in Shadows

Onyx-painted eyes watched the sunrise silently, darting even though that she was the enemy. Unlike her sisters who lived in the Ridges, the Queen of the Valkyries preferred the life of a diplomat. She adored her warriors, but the world of language seemed to welcome her more.

She never imagined what strength it took to be a diplomat.

You need to work together…you need…to kill…someone.

She shook her head as the words returned to her.

A resident of the Vistas…

Her skin stiffened as goosebumps rose stubbornly from the presence of her discomfort.

Ayumi

A fallen tree branch startled her as she turned quickly and ran toward the heart of her jungle. The world was falling to chaos. Rapier’s influence grew with the chill of this autumn, rumors of a returning Gobardon plagued the night, and the birth of monsters became daily news. As an ally of the Dark Queen, Seduction considered herself lucky because her kingdom would not be a target, but she could not be certain that Rapier’s greed for power might make her home look appetizing.

When she went to Tazewell, she sought only to strengthen herself for the sake of her kingdom. She could not rely on the Isles’ power because that power might one day be used against her. All that it would take would be an accidental steal or a misheard word. Her kingdom could go to war and she needed to be prepared. She hated it. She would never understand these warriors.

She did not appreciate Tazewell’s mission nor did she enjoy sneaking through the night in order to plan Ayumi’s murder with Taj, the Duke of the Silver Lakes. In these times, enemies became friends and she had to realize that, one day soon, she would have to send one of her warriors against Taj. She refused to get attached.

This proved difficult.

We cannot let them know, Seduction, he had said, even though his thoughts lingered on Ophelia.

I know this, Taj. That is why we need to do this quickly.

Silence overcame him and his eyes darted to the crescent moon that could have betrayed their presence. I am going to hate hating you. His voice was hoarse.

He stunned her. He floored her, but she found that she could not lash out at him. I do not think that I will hate you.

There were some things that just made you closer to someone. Helping each other save each other was one of them.

Another shake of her head and Taj was gone. Instead, thoughts of Ayumi flooded her mind. Ayumi…the quiet one..the timid one. She could not understand why Tazewell had chosen her, but she knew that she could not ever slaughter a fellow Valkyrie. So…she found an angle.

Dear sister Ayumi. You have been here for quite some time so you must know of our rift with the Rajputs. Yet there you stand, carrying the King’s child. You should be ashamed and I will certainly not allow Mocking Call’s child to reside here. One of his children is quite enough, not to mention the fact that he dare violate one of our sisters or the fact that you allowed it. Ayumi, you are not longer welcome among our number. EXILE has befallen you.

It did not solver her guilt, but it did make things better.

She would cast out the pregnant Ayumi and hope that she could carry out the rest of her plan.



It was not time for the dark, yet her eyes could not stop themselves from seeing it. She was Cinderella, stumbling in her ball dress as the torches were extinguished, but the party was not nearly over. She was a follower of Rencor, but still feared what she saw. These beings plagued her daily, feeding on her fears and casting her into an abyss where sunlight could never enter.

Daniella screamed, but no words escaped her parched lips. She was silent, always silent.

This was a battle and she was not a warrior.